Signal system



D. J. McCARTHY June 3- 1924.

SIGNAL SYSTEM Filed Jan. 23, 1922 Patented June 3, 19.24.

UNET

DANIEL J. ivrecnnriaymr ELeImILLInoIs, Assr'eno r; 'Iio c ie eqmmwn sie'IIALI arm sUrrLY COMPANY, A oonr'o-nnrron OF ILLInoIs.

SIGNAL SYSTEM.

Application fi1edJanu'ary23, 1922. serial-n6. 531,065?

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LDANIELJJM CARTHY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elgin, in the county of Kane and State This invention relates, to signal systems:

It is particularly applicable to poly chrome signals, such asused oi -railways,-

and in other fields.

One of the objects of the invention? is' to provide an improved signal.

Another object is to provide a signal which may be manipulated readily to se lectively display a plurality of different colored beams of light; I

Another object is to provide asignal wherein the selective display of different colored lights maybe effected by a simple unidirectional movementof a. series of reflectors.

Another object is to provide-a signal Other objects and advantages-will here ina'fter appear. I

An embodiment of the invention is diagrammatically illustrated in the accom panying drawing, \vherein Fig. 1 18 a perspective of an arrangement of prism reflectors which may be used for" the selective projection of beams of three different colors. I

fig. 2 is a diagrammatictop plan of the signal in position to project one color of light, for example yellow.

Fig. 3 is a top plan ofthe signal inposition to project-a different colorof light, for example green.

4 is a side elevation of the projecting system" and a'schem'atic diagram of the circuit connections, and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the signal in position to project a third color of light, for example red.

For a three-color system two right angled prisms 1 and 2 may be used. The prisms are placed one above the other and have their diagonal faces in planes at right angles to each other. Any suitable means, such as ordinary ornamental window metallic molding 3 may be used to secure the prisms together inproper relation. Both lane of their superposition.

prisms are rigidly carried on a recipro cable" plunger rod 4 secured to or forming: a part of a solenoid magnet armature 5'. The movement of armature 5 and rod 4 moves all @r the prism-s axially or in the.

movement of armature 5-, under the influence" of electromagnetic windings, selectlvely position s tlre prisms, as will be hereinafter described I Prismsl and 2 are placed. in asuitable' 60 I f The, axial lamp casing-(not shown) containing alens a 7 and threelamps 8-, 9and "10. Lamps 8, 9 ancl' 1 are of di flerent colors, such as green, "redand yellow respectively. Ordinary lampsniay be used if transparent a green, red and yellow plates or lenses 11 are interposed"between'xthe prisms and the respecti-vel'amp's." The lamps are all in the same planepassing through the focal axis 1 1 of lens 7, the: red lamp 9 being on the axis and thegren and yellow lamps 8. and 10=bein g on opposit'e sides thereof.

' The prisms are"arranged to be movedmay" be interposed in frontor all three lamps,-or both may be removed leaving an unob'structed' 'p ath between lamp 9 and lens 7.

Armature is controlled by two windings 12 and 13," which maybe di-fi'erentially wound. Winding 12 is connected in series with green lampB a-nd asource of current 1 1 thro'ug-h a suitablje switch 15. Similarly winding-13 is connected in series with yellow' lamp and battery 14 through a switch 16. Red lamp 9 is in a circuit including a'switcli- 17 and source of current 14. j

The cl'(' sing'- of'swit'clr 16" completes the circuit through yellow lamp 10 and winding- 1K YVi'n di-ng 18is energized and lamp fil 10 is illuminated. The energization of winding 13 eleva-t'es 'aarmature and plunger rod at. so that prism 1 is placed in front of the three lamps, as shown in Fig. 2. The yellow light from lamp 10 is refracted by prism l and projected through lens 7 causing the signal to give a yellow indication. Green lamp 8 and red lamp 9 are not illuminated because both of the circuits therefor are open.

The closing of switch 15 completes the circuit for winding 12 and green lamp 8. The energization of winding 12 elevates armature 5 and both prisms to the second stage, bringing prism 2 in the plane of the lamps as shown in Figs. 8 and 4:. Green lamp 8 is illuminated and prism 2 retracts the green light through lens 7, giving a green indication. Neither the red nor the yellow lamps are illuminated as their circuits remain open.

The closing of switch 17 closes the circuit for red lamp 9 but the circuit for both windings remain open. Thus the prisms are not raised and the red lamp projects its light directly through lens 7 over the top or prism 1, giving a red indication.

Ordinarily a red indication is the danger signal, and the usual practice in railway signalling is to have the red light visible normally so that if there should be a mistake in the closing or the circuits for the other signals or any other'accidental or inadvertent failure to give the proper "indication the danger signal will be displayed. For example, the differential windings prevent the elevation of the prisms if the switches for both the green and yellow lamps are closed together. This leaves the system in position to display the red or danger signal.

The lamps, windings and switches may be of any suitable construction. The switches may be either manually or automatically controlled. Manual switches and relay switches of suitable types are well known in the art. Ordinarily the switches are so related that the contacts controlling the red lamp are normally closed, to be open when either the contacts forthe yellow or the green lamp are closed and to be closed or remain closed when both the contacts for the yellow and green lamps are simultaneously closed.

Any suitable means for deflecting the light beam may be used in place of the prisms and throughout the description and claims the word reflector is used in the sense of including any suitable means which will serve to reflect or retract the beams of light.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A signal system having a plurality of superposed reflectors arranged to project light from different directions, a plurality of sources of light arranged about the reflectors, and means for causing relative reflector may be brought into projecting relation to its corresponding source of light.

3. A signal system having a series of superposed reflectors movable in the plane of superposition, a source of light for each reflector, the sources being located in a common plane transverse to the direction or" movement of the reflectors, and means for selectively moving the reflectors so as to bring any one into the plane of the sources of light to project the light from the corresponding source.

4:. A signal system having a plurality of superposed reflectors, a source of light for each reflector, and electromagnetic means for selectively producing relative movement between the reflectors and the sources to bring any one reflector into projecting re lation to a corresponding source.

A signal system having a series of su perposed reflectors, a source of? light for each reflector, electromagnetic means including an armature for causing selective movement between the reflectors and the sources so as to bring any one reflector into projecting relation relative to a corresponding source, and a plurality of windings comprising parts of the electromagnetic means for selectively controlling the armature.

6. A signal system having a plurality of superposed reflectors, a source of light for each reflector, electromagnetic means for causing movement between the reflectors and the sources so that any one reflector may be brought into projecting relation to a corresponding source, and a plurality of differentially related windings comprising parts of the electro-magnetic means.

In testimony whereof I hereunto subscribe my name.

DANIEL J. MCCARTHY. 

